Talks In Riyadh: Agreement Reached to Ensure Safe Navigation and Avoid Use of Force in the Black Sea

The United States and Ukraine have agreed to safeguard maritime navigation and refrain from using force in the Black Sea, the White House announced following high-level talks between American and Ukrainian delegations in Riyadh, Orda reports.

As part of the agreement, both sides committed not to use commercial vessels in the Black Sea for military purposes.

Other key points from the talks:

• Washington and Kyiv will develop measures to implement the ban on strikes against energy infrastructure
• Both parties welcomed the involvement of third countries in facilitating agreements on halting strikes on energy facilities and in the Black Sea region
• The U.S. reaffirmed its commitment to supporting prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine, the release of civilians, and the return of children taken from Ukraine
• The U.S. and Ukraine will continue working toward a "durable and lasting peace"

Washington has also pledged to help Russia regain access to global agricultural markets, including reducing maritime insurance costs and improving access to ports and payment systems.

In parallel, ASTRA reports that the Kremlin stated that the agreements reached with the United States in Riyadh — including commitments to ensure maritime safety and refrain from using force in the Black Sea — will only come into effect if several sanctions against Russia are lifted.

The Kremlin emphasized that implementation hinges on removing restrictions against Rosselkhozbank and other Russian financial institutions, including reconnection to the SWIFT banking system.

Additional conditions include lifting sanctions on trade financing, food producers and exporters, Russian vessels and their port servicing, as well as the removal of bans on the supply of agricultural machinery and other goods used for food and fertilizer production.

At the same time, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov confirmed that Ukraine has agreed to halt attacks on both energy infrastructure and at sea.

However, an RBK Ukraine report detailing the talks indicates that  Ukraine notes that the departure of Russian military vessels beyond the eastern part of the Black Sea would violate the agreements. Ukraine will regard the movement of Russian military vessels beyond the Eastern Black Sea as a security threat and reserves the right to self-defense.

Meanwhile, the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine have agreed to implement a complete ban on strikes targeting energy infrastructure in Ukraine and Russia, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced on March 25, according to The Kyiv Independent.

All parties agreed to implement the presidential agreement on a complete ban on strikes on the energy infrastructure of Ukraine and Russia,  Umerov wrote on Facebook.